Florence & Me

Katie Portanova
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Biweekly

Ciao! I’m Kate Portanova, your host, Tuscany Travel Guide & Slow Italy Trip Planner, and lifelong lover of all things Florence. This podcast is your ticket to discovering the authentic side of Florence and Italy—one story, one dish, and one piazza at a time. Whether you’re dreaming of sipping espresso in a bustling café, wandering cobblestone streets filled with history, or connecting with locals to experience la vera Italia, you’re in the right place. Join me as I share our journey of returning to Italy in the near future. Return to Italy has begun!

  1. 2h ago

    Italy Taught Me the Art of Being a Regular

    What if one of the best ways to experience Italy isn't finding somewhere new—but going back? When I think about the years I lived in Florence, some of the places that meant the most to me weren't famous landmarks. They were the places I returned to again and again—the same pub, the same tiny panino shop, the same familiar faces who eventually knew my name. And years later, Stefano and I felt that same thing beginning to happen in the tiny Tuscan village of Radicondoli. In this episode, I'm talking about why connection takes time, why being a good guest doesn't mean pretending to “live like a local,” and what can happen when you stop searching for the next best place and simply return to somewhere you already loved. Maybe we're asking for connection without giving it enough time to happen. Keep following my road back to Tuscany:Subscribe to Rooted in Tuscany, where I write about belonging, village life, slowing down, and our journey back to Italy. Stay longer. Rush less. Connect more.See less. Feel more.

  2. 6d ago

    How Many Days Do You Really Need in Tuscany?

    How many days do you really need in Tuscany? Three days? Five? A full week? If you want my quick answer, I’d give Tuscany 5–7 days if you can. But I think there’s a much more important question to ask: What kind of experience do you want to have with the time you have? In this episode of Florence & Me, I’m talking about one of the biggest mistakes I see people make when planning a trip to Tuscany—treating an entire region like one more stop on an Italy itinerary. We’ll talk about what 3, 5, 7, 10, or even 14 days in Tuscany can look like, how many home bases you actually need, Florence vs. the Tuscan countryside, and why changing hotels every couple of days can turn your vacation into a whole lot of logistics. I’ll also share why seven days is my personal sweet spot—and why an empty afternoon might be one of the best things you can put on your Tuscany itinerary. Because experiencing Tuscany isn't about how many villages, wineries, and famous sights you can squeeze into your trip. It's about giving yourself enough time to actually be there. To return to the same bar. Have the two-hour lunch. Take the passeggiata after dinner. Talk to someone you wouldn't have met if you were rushing to your next reservation. Stay longer. Rush less. Connect more. See less. Feel more. 🌿 Planning your first slow trip to Tuscany? Download my free Slow Tuscany Starter Kit. 🇮🇹 Already have an Italy itinerary? My Italy Itinerary Review gives you a second set of eyes before your trip. I'll personally review your route, timing, home bases, experiences, and logistics, then we'll spend 60 minutes together figuring out what works—and where you might want a little more breathing room. Find both at Truly Italy.

  3. Aug 27

    Slow Travel in Italy: Why Seeing Less Makes a Better Trip

    Florence. Rome. Venice. Tuscany. Cinque Terre. Amalfi. When you're planning a trip to Italy—especially one you've dreamed about for years—it's easy to feel like you need to see as much as possible. But somewhere between packing, changing hotels, catching trains and racing to the next reservation, your dream vacation can start to feel like another productivity exercise. In this episode of Florence & Me, I'm talking about why we feel so much pressure to "make the most" of our time in Italy—and what might happen if we stopped trying to see everything. I share stories from my everyday life in Florence, our recent stay in the Tuscan village of Radicondoli, and the simple moments I still remember years later: familiar faces, long lunches, conversations, aperitivo and returning to the same places again and again. Because experiencing Italy deeply isn't necessarily about seeing more. Sometimes, it's about giving one place enough time to become personal. See less. Feel more. In This Episode We talk about: Why Italy itineraries become overpacked so easilyThe pressure to "make it worth it" when you've spent years dreaming about ItalyWhat my everyday routines in Florence taught me about belongingWhy returning to the same café, bar or restaurant can completely change your experienceWhat Stefano and I discovered by slowing down in RadicondoliWhy an intentionally empty afternoon isn't wasted vacation timeThe difference between visiting a Tuscan village and experiencing village lifeWhy a two-hour Italian lunch is absolutely okayHow fewer home bases can create a richer tripWhy some of the people you meet may become more memorable than the landmarksWhat slow travel in Italy has taught me about being present in everyday life I also share one of my favorite reflections from a past Truly Italy guest, Skip, who described Tuscany as not only a "feast for your eyes," but a "feast of people"—the warmth, caring and pride he experienced through the people, food, wine and countryside. If you're dreaming about Tuscany but don't want your trip to become a checklist of towns and attractions, start with my free Slow Tuscany Starter Kit. It's designed to help you plan Tuscany with fewer places, more breathing room and more meaningful connection to where you are. → Get the Free Slow Tuscany Starter Kit Already have an itinerary but wondering if you're trying to fit too much into it? I also offer personal itinerary help and custom Italy trip planning through Truly Italy. → Explore Italy Trip Planning with Truly Italy As you're planning your trip, try asking yourself: What would happen if I left this afternoon empty? You won't know the answer until you're there. And that might be the point. Stay longer. Rush less. Connect more. See less. Feel more.

  4. Aug 12

    The Apartment We Almost Bought (And Why My Body Said No)

    We almost bought an apartment in Tuscany. It was charming, affordable, and close enough to our dream of moving back to Italy that it was easy to picture ourselves saying yes. But while my mind was focused on timelines and possibilities, my body was sending a very different message. In this episode, I share why Stefano and I walked away from the apartment we almost bought in Radicondoli—and what that decision revealed about urgency, fear, scarcity, and learning to trust myself again. Because moving to Italy is not only about finding the right property. It is about creating a life that feels safe, intentional, slow, and truly ours. If this episode resonates, follow Florence & Me and join me at https://www.trulyitaly.tours for The Road Less Expected—substack on Italy, slow travel, and building a life towards Tuscany.

  5. Aug 6

    Why We're Moving to Italy — The Real Story of What We're Preparing to Leave Behind

    Twelve years ago, Stefano and I left Florence chasing a better living in the US. We found it, for a while. In this episode I'm telling you the real reason we're moving back to Tuscany, and it's not the version you see on my socials. I talk about the panic attacks I've had at airports, not knowing if my husband would make it through customs. The friendships I've kept since 2002. Losing my brother's best friend way too young this past February, and what that taught me about not second-guessing the life you actually want. And the trade-off we're walking into: Italy still doesn't pay well, and we're not in our 20s anymore. We haven't left yet. We're still hunting for an apartment in the small Tuscan town we want to call home. This is the honest, uncertain middle nobody talks about when they talk about moving abroad. If this resonates, grab my Free Slow Tuscany Starter Kit here— a first step toward planning your own slow travel life in Italy.

  6. Jul 10

    Slow Travel in Tuscany: What A Slow Day In A Tuscan Village Actually Feels Like

    What does slow travel in Tuscany actually feel like? In this episode I take you inside one real day in Radicondoli, a tiny hilltop village in southern Tuscany, from waking up without an alarm to a three‑hour dinner with locals and everything in between. I walk you through the morning cappuccino at the village bar with familiar faces, a walk that turned into a proper hour‑long hike around the hill, a big pasta lunch at home, an afternoon nap with zero guilt, watching the sunset from our favorite bench, and aperitivo that turned into dinner that turned into grappa and limoncello with the owners and locals. This episode is for anyone who has ever come home from a trip more exhausted than when they left, and who quietly knows that one village, one week, and nowhere to be might be exactly what they need. – Free Slow Tuscany Starter Kit: https://www.trulyitaly.tours/slow-tuscany-starter-kit – Slow Week in Tuscany guide: https://www.trulyitaly.tours/slow-week-in-tuscany – Slow Italy Trip Planning Sessions: https://www.trulyitaly.tours/slow-italy-trip-planning – Tuscan Village Week 2027 interest list: https://www.trulyitaly.tours/tuscan-village-waitlist

    Slow Travel in Tuscany: What A Slow Day In A Tuscan Village Actually Feels Like

  7. Jul 3

    Slow Travel in Tuscany: How to Choose your Base in Tuscany

    If you've got 17 towns pinned in Tuscany and no idea which one to actually stay in, this episode is for you. I walk you through exactly how to choose the right base for your slow week in Tuscany: what your base actually needs to do (not just look pretty), a simple checklist to evaluate any town, the three types of bases and who each one is best for, and the most common mistakes I see when people plan their Tuscany trips. I also share why Radicondoli ticks every single box for a slow week, a base from my own past retreats that didn't quite work, and three simple questions to help you stop scrolling and actually decide. By the end you'll feel clear on where you want to land in Tuscany, not still drowning in tabs. Links in show notes: – Slow Week in Tuscany guide: https://www.trulyitaly.tours/slow-week-in-tuscany – Slow Italy Trip Planning Sessions: https://www.trulyitaly.tours/slow-italy-trip-planning – Tuscan Village Week 2027 interest list: https://www.trulyitaly.tours/tuscan-village-waitlist New to slow travel in Tuscany? Grab my free Slow Tuscany Starter Kit here: [link]

    Slow Travel in Tuscany: How to Choose your Base in Tuscany

  8. Jun 18

    Slow Travel in Tuscany: How to Plan One Slow Week in Tuscany (Without Seeing Everything)

    If your Tuscany plans currently include four bases, seven hotel changes, and a color‑coded spreadsheet, this episode is for you. I walk you through how to plan one calm, slow week in Tuscany with a single home base and a simple rhythm, so you come home rested instead of wiped out. We’ll talk about the most common planning mistakes (too many cities in too few days, “when will I be back?” brain), how to choose a good base village, what a real slow day in Radicondoli looked like for me and Stefano, and how to set up a 7‑day Tuscany itinerary with slow mornings, one main thing per day, and unhurried evenings. I also cover when you actually need a car in Tuscany, realistic drive times between hill towns and bigger cities, and how to protect the “slow” when you’re tempted to add just one more place. If you want a ready‑made version of this: Here's my Slow Week in Tuscany guide 60‑minute Slow Italy trip‑planning sessions Hop on my interest list for my June 2027 Tuscan village week. New to slow travel in Tuscany? Grab my free Slow Tuscany Starter Kit here: ⁠[link]⁠

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5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Ciao! I’m Kate Portanova, your host, Tuscany Travel Guide & Slow Italy Trip Planner, and lifelong lover of all things Florence. This podcast is your ticket to discovering the authentic side of Florence and Italy—one story, one dish, and one piazza at a time. Whether you’re dreaming of sipping espresso in a bustling café, wandering cobblestone streets filled with history, or connecting with locals to experience la vera Italia, you’re in the right place. Join me as I share our journey of returning to Italy in the near future. Return to Italy has begun!

Information

  • Creator
    Katie Portanova
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    110
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Katie Portanova
  • Show Website
    Florence & Me

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